He heard a voice—­a shepherd-lad came to him
              And was his guide; if once, why not again,
              And in this desert?  If never—­then the whole
              Of what he says, and looks, and does, and is,
              Makes up one damning falsehood.  Leave him here
              To cold and hunger!—­Pain is of the heart,
              And what are a few throes of bodily suffering
              If they can waken one pang of remorse?
        [Goes up to HERBERT.]
              Old Man! my wrath is as a flame burnt out,
              It cannot be rekindled.  Thou art here
              Led by my hand to save thee from perdition: 
              Thou wilt have time to breathe and think—­

HERBERT Oh, Mercy!

MARMADUKE I know the need that all men have of mercy,
              And therefore leave thee to a righteous judgment.

HERBERT My Child, my blessed Child!

MARMADUKE No more of that;
              Thou wilt have many guides if thou art innocent;
              Yea, from the utmost corners of the earth,
              That Woman will come o’er this Waste to save thee.
          [He pauses and looks at HERBERT’S staff.]
              Ha! what is here? and carved by her own hand!
       [Reads upon the staff.]
              “I am eyes to the blind, saith the Lord. 
              He that puts his trust in me shall not fail!”
              Yes, be it so;—­repent and be forgiven—­
              God and that staff are now thy only guides.
          [He leaves HERBERT on the Moor.]

SCENE—­An eminence, a Beacon on the summit

LACY, WALLACE, LENNOX, etc. etc.

SEVERAL OF THE BAND (confusedly) But patience!

ONE OF THE BAND Curses on that Traitor, Oswald!—­
                          Our Captain made a prey to foul device!—­

LENNOX (to WALLACE)
              His tool, the wandering Beggar, made last night
              A plain confession, such as leaves no doubt,
              Knowing what otherwise we know too well,
              That she revealed the truth.  Stand by me now;
              For rather would I have a nest of vipers
              Between my breast-plate and my skin, than make
              Oswald my special enemy, if you
              Deny me your support.

LACY We have been fooled—­
              But for the motive?

WALLACE Natures such as his
              Spin motives out of their own bowels, Lacy! 
              I learn’d this when I was a Confessor. 
              I know him well; there needs no other motive
              Than that most strange incontinence in crime
              Which haunts this Oswald.  Power is life to him
              And breath and being; where he cannot govern,
              He will destroy.